National Security Agency (Bahrain)

The National Security Agency or National Security Apparatus (Arabic: جهاز الأمن الوطني‎) is an investigating authority in Bahrain that is associated with but not formally part of the Ministry of the Interior.^[1] The NSA was formed after King Hamad issued Decree No. 14 of 2002 declaring it as the replacement of the General Directorate for State Security Investigations.^[2][1][3]

The National Security Agency has been accused of torture^[4][1] and targeting of human rights defenders and opposition political activists.^[5][6]

The NSA director is appointed by the King, has cabinet rank, and is a member of the Supreme Defence Council along with the Minister of Interior.^[1] The most senior positions of the NSA are occupied by relatives of the King, while the majority of the agency's employees are non-Bahraini citizens. In addition, Shi'ites make up only 4% of the NSA's employees, despite being a majority of Bahrain's population.^[3]

The current director of the NSA is Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, a cousin of King Hamad and a member of the Al Khalifa royal family of Bahrain. Khalifa bin Abdullah was appointed on March 23, 2008, prior to which he was serving as Bahrain's ambassador to London. He had previously been the acting CEO of Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation and director of Press and Foreign Media Relations.^[7]

Prior to Khalifa bin Abdullah, the position of NSA director was occupied by another cousin of the King, Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who was appointed in September 2005, and is the current ambassador to London.^[4][3]. The first director of the NSA was another cousin of the King, Abdul Aziz bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, who was appointed by the King in May 2002.^[3][8]

Before 2002, the NSA was organized as the 'General Directorate for State Security Investigations' (Arabic: الإدارة العامة لمباحث أمن الدولة‎), also known as 'Security and Intelligence Service'. It was headed by Ian Henderson from 1971 to 1998.^[9] Adel Flaifel served in the organization until 2002.

The National Security Agency oversees the Special Security Force Command (SSFC) which itself is accused of human rights violations.^[1][3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Torture Redux". Human Rights Watch: p. 5. 8 February 2010. http://www.hrw.org/en/node/88200/section/5. "The NSA, while not formally part of the Ministry of Interior, has offices in Interior Ministry headquarters" 
2. ^ "Decree No 14 of the Year 2002 on the Establishment of the National Security Agency". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 8 May 2002. http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=D1402. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dangerous Statistics and Facts about the National Security Apparatus". Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. 5 March 2009. http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/2784. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Bahrain 'torture service' official to attend royal wedding". The Guardian. 28 April 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/28/bahraini-linked-to-torture-royal-wedding. 
5. ^ "Granting the National Security Apparatus the power of General Attorney and immunity from prosecution before Civil Courts". Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. http://www.bahrainrights.org/node/2698. Retrieved 29 August 2011. 
6. ^ "The King of Bahrain Grants the National Security Apparatus (NSA) Full Power". Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. 23 August 2010. http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/3265. 
7. ^ Henzel, Christopher (2008-03-24). New head of Bahrain National Security Agency. WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks cable:08MANAMA194. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/bahrain-wikileaks-cables/8334506/NEW-HEAD-OF-BAHRAIN-NATIONAL-SECURITY-AGENCY.html. Retrieved 2011-08-28. 
8. ^ "Decree No 15 of the Year 2002 on the Appointment of the Head of the National Security Agency with the Rank of Minister". Official Gazette of the Kingdom of Bahrain. 8 May 2002. http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/viewhtm.aspx?ID=D1502. 
9. ^ "'Britain's Klaus Barbie' still walks free". New Statesman. 29 November 1999. http://www.newstatesman.com/199911290061.